Goodness and Mercy Follow Me

Word of the Day
I am your Good Shepherd and I gave My life for you (John 10:10-12). I have told you goodness and mercy follow you and it is so. Therefore, you must follow Me without fear or doubt. My unfailing love and goodness will never allow Me to forsake you, abandon you in any situation, from the minuscule to the larger than life itself.

The only safety sheep have is within the bounds of their shepherd’s care and tender compassions. This is the way it works. Outside of My protection wolves in sheep’s clothing lie in wait to deceive even the most careful ones. It isn’t always the most blatant of sins My sons and daughters find their selves enmeshed in. It could be busyness, unkindness or just trying to please Me in your own strength. This is where My goodness and My mercy come in.

Sometimes they are not expressed in ways one would normally expect them to be. Know this, I will go to any means to pull you back into the safe confines of My presence. If I was willing to or allowed you to stay outside the place of safety; I would not be good and merciful. I would not have sacrificed all. I would not be God. I am compelled by My goodness for I am Good. I am God.

You will save yourself and those you love much heartache if you stay close to the goodness and mercy emanating from Me within the realms of My presence. It is something you must choose to believe, to have faith in no matter the circumstances you are experiencing. Negative circumstances do not negate My goodness and mercy. Though it rains on the just and the unjust, My righteous ones are never forsaken or begging for bread. I am the Bread of Life and I am always near. You never have to beg for Me to come. I am always with you no matter what. I am near to all who call upon Me. (Psalms 145:18)

Beloved, hear My voice and you will not follow another. Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” How could He say this unless the very goodness and mercy he received by following me then emanated from his life to those who followed him ? unless it left deposits of Me everywhere he went?

What follows you beloved? You can tell how much you are following Me by what follows you. Yes, My mercy and grace follows you, always believing the best, giving the best. You must do the same for others.

Remember, I am love and I lead you with love. In this I make way for goodness and mercy to follow you with infinite tender-hearted compassion. Therefore, if you who love Me follow and receive these mercies you will leave behind the very thing you receive. It is then imparted into the lives of those you touch and they in turn find Me in a more profound way. And just maybe they find Me for the very first time.

I want you to know not only am I a blessing to you, but you are a blessing to Me. When those you love do well, succeed, experience joy or any other myriad of bountiful blessings your heart is thrilled; it is blessed. I am likewise blessed by you. Each time you make a step of progress My heart swells and overflows with goodness and mercy. I am and will be with you in this manner all the days of your life as a giver and as an example. Be like Me. Follow Me, receive mercy, receive goodness and you will experience all their benefits. You will be goodness and mercy.

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it] (Hebrews 4:15-16 Amplified)

Prayer
I am the sheep of Your hand, the sheep of Your pasture. I do not wander or move out from the protections of Your goodness and mercy. I receive them in all their fullness in my life. Your goodness gives me the best I could ever possibly hope for. Mercy surrounds me, follows me all the days of my life. How awesome to know it blesses You so much to see me succeed, to walk in the paths You have made for me. I am blessed by Your great care for me. Bountiful blessings fill my heart and it overflows with expectation and hope. The very mercy and goodness which follows You and is given to me, I give to others. Help me to always be sensitive to You and to others. Mercy and goodness will be left behind everywhere I go and in everything I do. Amen

Reflect and Journal

1. Have you ever experienced the intervention of God in your life and not considered it merciful only to find out later it was?
2. Reflecting back on this situation, how can it help you develop trust in His goodness and mercy?
3. In what areas to you need to be more merciful in, thereby demonstrating the heart of God?